If you don’t think a rookie can have a huge impact on your fantasy football team, think again. Two rookies were top-five fantasy players at their positions in 2021: Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase and Pittsburgh’s Najee Harris.
In 2020, the Colts’ Jonathan Taylor was also a top-five player, and Minnesota’s Justin Jefferson was the WR6. When the marriage of talent and team-fit is perfect, rookies can and have impacted their teams in big ways and lucky fantasy managers benefitted.
There are several candidates capable of making that happen this season. And while the wide receiver class is a lot deeper, a running back tops my list of favorites.
1
RB Breece Hall, New York Jets
The Jets’ running game was virtually non-existent last season, so they made Hall the first running back selected in the draft when they selected him with the fourth pick of the second round. He’ll have an opportunity to be an every-down back, and behind a pretty solid offensive line, he could push for Offensive Rookie of the Year.
2
WR Drake London, Atlanta Falcons
Another top OROY candidate, London will be one of Atlanta’s most-targeted players with Calvin Ridley suspended for the year. He’ll have to compete with the incredible Kyle Pitts for the very few touchdowns Atlanta will score, and his quarterback situation isn’t ideal, but he’s still set up to have limitless opportunity.
3
WR Treylon Burks, Tennessee Titans
Burks will be looked at to help replace A.J. Brown, who was traded to the Eagles. The Titan’s run-first offense will still run on the engine of Derrick Henry, but when they do put the ball in the air, the 6-2, 225-pound Burks can go get it.
4
WR Chris Olave, New Orleans Saints
The Saints have plenty of possession guys like Jarvis Landry and Michael Thomas to win underneath, which could carve out a role for Olave as a deep threat. And Jameis Winston has the arm to get it to the speedy rookie. It’ll just be a matter of target-share for him.
5
WR Garrett Wilson, New York Jets
Like his Ohio State teammate Olave, Wilson will have a bit of competition on his own team for targets. Between Elijah Moore, Corey Davis, Braxton Berrios and the No. 1 guy on this list, he might take a little longer carving out a role.
6
Next 5
6. RB Kenneth Walker III, Seattle Seahawks
7. WR Christian Watson, Green Bay Packers
8. QB Kenny Pickett, Pittsburgh Steelers
9. WR Jahan Dotson, Washington Commanders
10. WR Tyquan Thornton, New England Patriots
